Adjustable gearing



Feb. 21, 1950 w, HYLAND 2,498,606

ADJUSTABLE GEARING Filed July 16, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. HYLAND AT TORNEYS Feb. 21, 1950 w. A. HYLAND 2,498,506

ADJUSTABLE GEARING Filed July 16, 1945 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

I N! "171- 1": I WILLIAM A. HYLAND Feb. 21, 1950 w. A. HYLAND ADJUSTABLE GEARING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 16, 1945 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. HYLAND I, RNEYS Patented Feb. 21, 1950 ADJUSTABLE GEARING William A. Hyland, Horicon, Wis., assignor to John Deere Van Brunt Company, a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 16, 1945, Serial No. 605,372

17 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 545,915, filed July 21, 1944, for Grain drill, now forfeited.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and more particularly to grain drills.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of new and improved driving connections between the ground wheels and the seeding mechanism. Still further, another feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved swinging gear hanger unit for engaging and disengaging the drive to the feed shaft of the seeding mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred form of the invention has been shown by way of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of one end of a grain drill in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, certain parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing the optional mounting of a gear hanger pivot member and corresponds to a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the grain drill and bracket, showing the position for adjustable mounting of the gear hanger pivot member.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the gear hanger pivot member.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a grain drill similar to that shown in Figure 1, showing a modified form of chain housing.

Figure 8 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 3 showing an improved mounting for the gear hanger.

Figures 9 and 10 are side and end views of an improved chain guide which encloses the means for driving the gearing shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of the form of grain drill end bracket shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the implement in which the principles of the present invention have been illustrated comprises a grain drill, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I, which is made up of a transversely extending seed box 2 carrying along the bottom thereof a plurality of seed dispensing units 3. The seed box 2 is supported on a frame l which includes transversely extending front and rear frame angles 6 and l and a plurality of longitudinally extending frame members including end members 5, which are secured in any suitable manner to the front and rear members 6 and l. The frame I also includes a hitch structure by which the drill may be connected to a source of propelling power, such as a tractor or the like. The seed box 2 includes box ends 8 that receive end supporting brackets 9 which form the means whereby the seed box 2 is mounted on the frame 4. The supports 9 are apertured to receive a seeding shaft H which actuates the various seeding units 3 and receives power from the ground wheels of the grain drill.

Each end of the frame is supported on a ground wheel unit l3. Each of the ground wheel units I3 comprises a drop axle [4 that is made up of a shaft bent into generally Z formation, thereby providing an upper horizontal axle section [6, a downwardly extending or depending section l1, and a laterally outwardly extending wheelreceiving section I8. Secured as by welding to the axle section I8 is a sheet metal strut l9 which is ribbed, as at 20, for strength and also is flanged, as at 2|, for the same purpose. The upper portion of the strut is apertured so as to be bolted, as at 22, to the vertical flange of the associated end frame angle 5, and the horizontal section [6 of the axle I4 is disposed inside the rear frame angle 1 and rigidly secured thereto by a pair of U-bolts 25 and clamping cap members 26. Normally the depending section I! of the axle extends downwardly and forwardly and the strut section I 9 is secured to the wheelreceiving section 18 of the axle so that when connected to the frame the strut section extends substantially vertically upwardly from the wheelreceiving axle section [8 to the frame end angle 5. The strut section 19 is of generally upwardly diverging or triangular configuration to provide the necessary strength without unnecessary weight. As best shown in Figure 1, the strut I9 is disposed laterally outwardly of the depending axle section I! and is in the plane of the frame end angle 5.

Mounted on each of the axles I4 is a ground wheel I25. Each wheel is of relatively small inexpensive wheel; for, tires of this type, due to the mass production conditions under which they are manufactured, are much cheaper than special type tires. Each wheel |25 includes a wheel body I26 receiving a pneumatic Or other tire and a hub 21 to which the wheel body is connected in any suitable manner. The hub 21 is provided With a plurality of lugs 28, preferably two, and the hub 21 is mounted for rotation on the wheel-receiving section N3 of the axle l4, being'held in position thereon by any suitable means, such as a cap 3| and a cotter 32. The inner end of the wheel hub 21 is extended laterally inwardly beyond the plane of the inner face of the wheel and provides a support for a drive sprocket 35 which is provided with a pair of slotsBiS to receive the lugs 28 mentioned above. A chain 3? is trained about the sprocket'35 at its lower end and at its upper end is trained over a sprocket 38 which is journaled for rotation in abearing structure 39 formed on "the: supporting bracket 9 and which also receives the outer end of a jackshaft M. A driving gear 52 isfixed in any suitable manner to the jackshaft ,4! laterally inwardly of the bearing structure 39. Also, each frame end angle carries a "supporting bracket'45 adjacent the bearing structure 39, and each bracket 45 receives a rockable ",prefs'sure'shaft 45 to which pressure arms are attached, The pressure arms are connected with the several furrow openers (not shown) for the "purpose of applying pressure to the furrow open- .eis when they are in their lowered or operating position and for raising them into their transport position, according to the position of the rockshaft l6. Generally, a self-interrupting clutch, s'uch as the one shown in the copending U. S. application"filed by John H. Starr and myself March 30, 1944, Serial No. 528,795, now U. S. Pat- 'e'nt ,2,432*,'897, "issued December 16, 1947, is employed for raising and lowering the furrow openjers. The clutch which is indicated at C in Figurea preferably isactuated by the jackshaft ll for optionally operating the pressure shaft 46.

The crank axle construction, its attachment to the frama'and the chain and sprocket drive are [claimed in my co-pending application mentioned above. The: mechanism for driving the seeding shaft 'llfromthe ground wheel I25 will now be described. Aigear 5| is provided with an elongated fhub section 52 which is journaled for rotation in [a bearing section 53 formed on the box and support member 9. The hub section 52 receives the "seeding shaft H in non-rotatable relation. Each box'end support member 9 is provided with a pair of vertical slots 55 and, adjacent thereto, a pluiality of recesses 56. Extending through each 1 pair of slots 55 are bolts 51 which fasten to the member 9 a gear-hanger pivot member 58. The latter is provided with a pair of projections 59 which may be disposed in any of the several pairs of openings or recesses 55 so as to dispose the pivot member 58 in different positions with respect to "the axis of rotation of the seeding drive gear 5|.

The hanger support member 58 is of special construction, embodying an upper pair of apertured lugs St to receive the bolts 51, the lower portion of thepivot member 58 being disposed in laterally outwardly spaced overhanging relation, as

best shown in Figure 3, so as to clear the horizontal' 'flangeofthe"associated frame end angle .for swinging movement on a shouldered section II formed on the gear hanger pivot member 58 just inwardly of the gear 64. Preferably, thrust washers l2 are disposed between the gear 6 and the shouldered section H on which the gear hanger It is mounted. The latter member, as best shown in Figure 3, comprises a hub section 15 adapted to be mounted on the shouldered section ll of the pivot member 53 and a depending section 16 which, adjacent the section 15, carries a laterally outwardly directed stud ll (Figure 2) on which a second idle gear 18 is mounted for rotation. E'lldgar l8 meshes with the idler gear 64 and the lattenin turn, m e shes with the seeding shaft drive gear 5|. The gear 18 is held in place by-a cap member is and a bolt 8 i that extends through the stud section ill "on the gear hanger it. The depending section of the gear hanger 10 is extended forwardly and also laterally inwardly, to form an abutment section 8 4 that is adapted to be engaged by an arm carried by the pressure shaft 46, whereby whenever the latter'is operated to raise the furrow openers, the arm 85 engages the gear hanger section 84 and swings'the same about its pivotal support on themember'BB so as to carry the gear'lfl out of mesh with'the gear 42 that is fixed to the jackshaft 5!. 'Thus, whenever the furrow openers are raised, the drive from the ground wheelto the seeding shaft is automatically interrupted, and when the pressure shaft is rocked in a directionto move the furrow openers intotheir operating position, the drive between the ground wheels andthe seeding shaft or shafts is automatically reestablished. A chain guard 9! is disposed'about the driving chain 31 and comprises a sheet metal enclosure, also ribbed 'for strength, which includes side flanges, ex-

tended, as at 92, so astofit over the flanges of the strut IS. The chain guard 9| is held-in place by screws or bolts fastening it to the flanged sheet hanger support member L58ibeing adjustable to- "ward and away fromthe axis of the seeding shaft for thepurpose' of accommodating the diiferent sizes of gears that may be made available. To

effect such an adjustment, the bolts 57 are loosened "and the gear hanger support 58 shifted irate-"an oneof the available positions, such positions being determined by the projections "59 entering one or the other of the sets of'recesses in the box end support member receiving them. Afterthe proper positionhas been secured, the

bolts 57 are tightened to fix the gear hanger support member firmly in'p'osition. A spring93 is connected at oneend to't'hegear hanger and at the other endto afastening 9% carried preferably by the strut l9. The spring 93 serves to yieldingly hold the swinging gear hanger in a position causing the associated gears to mesh in driving" relation. However, if the drive should be reversed, the gear hanger automatically permits the gears to'ratc'het.

Figures 7 and 8 show a modified form of gearing and hanger construction'which embodies certain advantages overthat described above.' Re- 5 ferring now to Figures 7 and 8, in the modified construction each box end bracket of the grain drill is indicated by the reference numeral WI and is provided with a plurality of openings, instead of the slots 55 and depressions 56 described above. At the front side of each of the box end brackets Iill, a single opening I02 is formed, and rearwarclly thereof, adjacent the rear side of the bracket I (ll, three openings I03 are formed. Cooperating with these openings is an associated gear hanger pivot member I05 constructed generally similar to the corresponding member 58 mentioned above, including an upper pair of apertured lugs I06 disposed in a section I! of the pivot member that is spaced apart laterally from the main body I08 of the pivot member I05. A central portion of the main section I08 is provided with a central boss III having a tapped opening H2 therein and, concentric thereof, a shouldered section H3. At the uper side of the member 505, a recess .334 is formed, generally between the shouldered portion H3 and the boss section I I I. A swinging gear hanger H6, generally of substantially the same construction as the gear hanger 10 described above, is mounted on the shouldered bracket portion I I3. The gear hanger IE6 is held in position by a flanged member H8 which carries a lug H9 adapted to seat in the recess IM and a hollow extended hub section I2i, the interior diameter of which is such as to receive the boss II I whereby the parts are centered when assembled. A plurality of shims I22 are disposed between the member H8 and the laterall inwardly facing shoulder I23 of the pivot member I05. The swinging gear han er is thus held in position between the face of the pivot member I and the adjacent face of the flanged member I I8. If undue wear takes place, the change may be accommodated by taking out one or more of the shims I22. A bolt I85 is employed for holding the flanged member H0 in place on the main support bracket I05. The threaded end of the bolt I85 is screwed into the tapped opening IE2, the bolt I 05 extending through an aperture I80 in a cap I21 which, at its inner side, is held against the outer end portion of the hollow hub section IZI. The cap I21 is extended, as at I28, so as to provide a retaining shoulder for a gear E 20 that is mounted on the hub portion I2 I. It will be seen that this construction differs from that shown in Figure 3 in so far as a separate part, namely, the member H8, is utilized for holding the swinging gear hanger in position independently of the gear I29, which corresponds to the gear 64 described above. Thus, in the present construction, if the intermediate gear I20 should become loose, through wear or from other causes, the proper positioning and action of the swinging gear hanger will not be affected.

Cap screws I3I are employed for holding the gear hanger pivot member I05 in different positions of adjustment relative to the box end bracket I 0| One of the bolts I3I is disposed in the single opening I02 while the other bolt is disposed in the opening in the other lug I06 and in a selected one of the openings I02, depending upon the particular gear to be meshed with the gear I29. When the cap screws or bolts I3I are tightened, the gear hanger pivot member is firmly and positively held in position, and by providing different holes for the bolt opposite the bolt in the opening I02, I provide a definite and easily determined position for the pivot member, especially since when changing the position of the ill latter it is necessary only to remove one bolt and loosen the other, pivoting the gear hanger pivot member on the bolt that extends through the opening I02.

Figures 9 and 10 disclose a modified form of chain guard housing, differing from that described above in that it may be applied after the driving parts from the ground wheel to the feeding shaft have been assembled on the grain drill. Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the chain guard housing is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I40 and comprises a main plate member I4I, which may be ribbed, as at I43, for strength. The member MI is provided with a narrow flange I42 and, at its lower end, with a downwardly facing notch I44. A marginal member, preferably in the form of a band section I41, completes the chain guard housing. The band or marginal section I41 is disposed about the flange I42. The band section I41 is wider at its lower end portion, as at I48, than at its upper portion I 40. The wider lower section I48 is adapted to extend underneath the main frame angle at that side of the drill, as is the corresponding part in the chain guard shown in Figure l. The band section I41 is spot Welded, or is fastened by any other suitable means, such as bolts I50, to the flange 142 at different points around the latter except that at one side the spot welding is omitted and, in lieu thereof, a pair of clips I5I and I52 are fixed to the plate section I 4! and cooperate with corresponding clips I53 and I54 which are carried by one lower end portion of the band section I41. The clips and brackets I5I-I54 are apertured to receive fastening bolts I51. When the latter are loosened and removed, the marginal end section I60, thus loosened, may be temporarily bent outwardly away from the plate section MI and the entire chain guard assembly inserted into position over the wheel hub and lower sprocket pinion, after which the marginal section may be bent back into position and the bolts I51 inserted and tightened, thus being brought to the position shown in Figure 8. The chain guard I40, like that shown in Figure 1, may be held in position against the associated end of the grain drill frame by any suitable frame, such as clips I58 or other suitable means.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use in a grain drill having a frame, and a driving gear member and a driven gear member journaled thereon, the improvement comprising a gear hanger, a pair of intermeshing gears journaled thereon, a gear hanger support member upon which said gear hanger is swingably mounted about an axis coinciding with one of said gears, means for mounting said gear hanger support member on said frame in a position meshing said one gear of said intermeshing gears with one of said gear members and providing for the swinging movement of said gear hanger carrying the other of said intermeshing gears into and out of mesh with the other of said gear members, and means for fixing said support member in different positions of adjustment relative to said frame to accommodate 1 disposing "different sizes of gears on said gearihanger in 'mesh with said one gear member.

2. For use in a grain drill, a supporting member having a plurality of openings therein, and 'a 'dr'iving'gear member and a driven-gear 'member journaled thereon, the improvement comprising a gear hanger support member adapted "to be attached to said supporting -member, a "gear hanger swingably mounted on said gear "hanger support-member, a pair of intermeshing gears journaled on'said'gear hangerin a position such that the axis of one of said gears coin- 3. Inagrain-drill or -the like, a gear hanger support member comprising a pair of separable 3 -parts, one having -a shoulder thereon, a swinging gear hanger mounted on said'shoulder, means "forfastening the otherpart of said gear hanger support section to said firstpart so as to confine said swinging gear hangertherebetween.

-4.-A- gear han'ger'support member comprising a first part having a central boss and a gear hanger receiving section, and asecond part having an openingadapted-to receive said boss and gear-hanger retaining meansfor retaining ssaid gearhangeron said gear hanger receiving section.

'5. :The invention set forth in claim 4, further characterized by means on said second part to receive a gear with which a gear on the gear hanger is adapted to'mesh, and common means for holding said gear on said'secondpart and the latter in position relative to said one part.

6. In a grain drill having a supporting member atione end thereof, "a--seeding shaft supported thereby, and a gear on saidshaft adja-.

centsaidsupporting member, a gearhanger sup- "port, a gear'carried thereby and adapted to meshwith said firstgear, and means for fixing said gear hanger support to said supportingmember-in different positions relative to said: seeding -.shaft,=so as to accommodate difierentsizes 'of "gears on said'seeding shaft.

'7. In a-grain drill orthe-like, a'swinging gear hanger support comprising a first part havinga gear hanger receivingsectionand a central section, second .partadapted to be fixed to said first part and=includingacentral section cooper- -ating with the central section of said first part for holding said parts in the DIOIJGT'I'BlLfiVBxIJOSition, and means on said second part for retaining the gear hanger on said gear hanger receiving section.

8. In a grain drill or the like, a gear hanger support comprising a first part having a gear hanger receiving section, a swinging gear hanger mounted on said gear hanger receiving section, a

second part adapted to be fixed to said first part and having means for holding said swinging gear hanger on said gear hanger receiving'section, means for securing said parts together, and.

means for insuring proper registry of said parts when they are secured together.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8, further characterized by a gear on said swinging gear hanger, and a gear on said second part'meshing with said hanger gear.

i "10. In a grain drill having a gear rotatable about an axis and frame means upon which said gear is mounted for rotation, a gear hangersupport member, a gear hanger swingably mounted onsaid support'member for movement relative thereto about an axis, a gear mounted on said support member concentric with respect to said latter axis and adapted to be disposed in meshing relation with respect to said grain drill gear, and means for fixing said gear hanger support member'to said grain drill frame means in different optional positions with respect to said grain drill gear so as to accommodate the removal of one or both of said gears and the replacement thereof by gears of different diameters.

11. In a grain drill, frame means, support means thereon, a seeding shaft rotatably carried by said support means and having a gear thereon, a gear hanger supporting member having a gear thereon adapted to mesh with said first gear, a swinging gear hanger swingably mounted on said support member for movement relative thereto about the axis of said second mentioned gear, said support member having a pair of slots therein, fastening means passing through said slots for clamping said support member to said end support in difierent positions of adjustment so as to accommodate different sizes of gears.

12. The invention set forth in claim 11, further characterized by said end support having a plurality of recesses defining the different positions which said gear hanger support member may take, and means on said gear hanger support member for disposition in selected recesses to retain said adjustment.

13. In a grain drill, a rotatable jackshaft having a gear thereon, a seeding shaft having a gear thereon, a gear hanger, a hanger support, an intermediate gear thereon adapted to mesh with said second gear, means for fixing said hanger support to the drill indifierent optional positions relative to said second gear so as to accommodate different sizes of the latter and/or said intermediate gear, means for pivotally connecting said gear hanger on said hanger support for swinging movement about the axis of said intermediate gear in any position of adjustment of said hanger support relative to said second gear, and a gear carried by said gear hanger in mesh with said intermediate gear and adapted to mesh with said first gear.

14. In an agricultural implement, frame means, support means thereon, a shaft rotatably carried by said support means and having a gear thereon, a gear hanger supporting member having a gear thereon adapted to mesh with said first gear, a swinging gear hanger swingably mounted on said support member for movement relative thereto about the axis of said second mentioned gear, said support member having a pair of slots therein, fastening .means passing through said slots forclamping said support member to said end'support in different positions of adjustment so as to accommodate different sizes of gears.

15. For use in an agricultural implement comprising frame means, sup-port means thereon, a shaft rotatably carried by said support means and having a gear thereon, and disconnect means mounted on-said frame means forward of said shaft, the improvement comprising a gear hanger supporting member having a gear thereon adaptedto mesh with said first gear, a swinging gear hanger swingably mounted on said support memberfor movement relative thereto about the axis of said second mentioned gear, said support memberIL-having means at one side thereof for pivotally receiving said gear hanger supporting member, and means adjacent the other side for fixing said support member to said frame means below said shaft and first mentioned gear in differ'e'nt positions of adjustment so as to accommodate different sizes of gears, said gear hanger including a section extending forwardly into operative relation with said disconnect means.

16..Foruse in a grain drill or the like includ- ;.;supporting part and frame means receivmg said part and including a portion extending inwardly of said part, the improvement comprising a gear hanger pivot member having an upper pair of lugs and a laterally outwardly disposed lower portion adapted to clear said inwardly extending frameportion when said lugs are fixed to said supporting part, and means for fixin said lugs to said supporting part.

-17. A gear hanger pivot member as defined in I claim 16, further characterized by said lugs being apertured, attaching bolts disposable in said apertures, and said supporting part having an aperture to receive the bolt carried by one of said lugs and a plurality of apertures for receiv- The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 37,345 Ingels Jan. 6, 1863 628,406 Griswold July 4, 1889 629,994 Heath Aug. 1, 1899 649,280 Dover May 8, 1900 670,214 Tonko Mar. 19, 1901 966,391 Fillingham Aug. 2, 1910 1,770,641 Brennan July 15, 1930 2,053,794 Keith et a1 Sept. 8, 1936 2,053,795 Keith et a1 Sept. 8, 1936 2,308,081 Hyland et a1. Jan. 12, 1943 2,391,975 Hyland et al Jan. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,223 Great Britain May 26, 1876 7,617 Germany Dec. 10, 1879 

